Irony

Perhaps in an attempt to garner favor with the nutrition-oriented crowd, McDonald's is going to include a book instead of a toy with its Happy Meals over the next two months. I'm sure that will make many a busy parent rushing through the drive-thru in the hopes the toy will make her child happier, happy. What is truly ironic about this new marketing scheme (other than the fact children do not usually realize you're marketing to them and toys are usually a more popular way to get them through the drive-thru, sadly), is that the books are premised on nutrition. Not that these books say "don't eat McDonald's because not even mold will eat it," but, rather, are geared more towards "don't eat too much" and "eating well will help you grow." Obviously, taking a truly "nutritional" path would be quite the juxtaposition.

A lot of companies with processed, chemical laden foods market to children. It's really unfair, since the parent then has the pleasure of dealing with an unhappy child who is not allowed to buy the "chocolate drink" of choice {yes, yoohoo, this is you}. McDonald's successfully defended, and achieved dismissal, of a lawsuit against it based on the argument that parents have the ability to just say no to their pleasantly screaming child.

McDonald's book plan may not stop children from wanting a Happy Meal. {My last excursion to McDonald's was a long time ago, but the fries? So good.} However, maybe once they have 4 copies of The Goat Who Ate Everything, they'll be more willing to forego the drive-thru, at least the one at McDonald's.